Crab picking machine

ABSTRACT

An endless, cleated conveyor belt inclined upwardly elevates cooked crabs for free fall at the discharge end of the belt onto the rear of a perforated shaker screen. The direct fall impact breaks up the crabs allowing small meat particles and waste to fall through the shaker screen onto a second endless conveyor belt for sorting. The larger crab particles are recirculated to the elevator conveyor belt for multiple cycle, free fall impact onto the perforated shaker screen.

Umted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,750,234 Rodgers et al. 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [5CRAB PICKING MACHINE 2,818,598 1/19ss Skrmetta 17/74 Inventors: NellieHum Rodgers: William P. 3,375,547 4/1968 Remke l7/7l Hunt Richard T.Wenstrom, all of Hampton v Primary Exammer--Luc1e H. LaudenslagerAtIorn'ey-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [73] Asslgneez SeaSavory, Inc., Cambridge, Md. 1 [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1971 57 ABSTRACT PPN05 1361427 An endless, cleated conveyor belt inclined upwardly elevatescooked crabs for free fall at the discharge end 52 U.S. c1. 17/71 17/48the Perfmted shake 51 Int. Cl. A22; 29/00 The dire" impact breaks up[58] Field of Search 17/48 71 74 small meat Particles and waste 'hmughshaker screen onto a second endless conveyor belt for 56] ReferencesCited sorting. The larger crab particles are recirculated to theelevator conveyor belt for multiple cycle, free fall im- UNITED STATESPATENTS pact onto the perforated shaker screen. 2,832,989 5/1958 Harris17/48 3,528,124 9/1970 Wenstrom et al. l7/48 21 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures REFRIGERATION PATENTEDMIC 7 ms SHEET 1 OF 2 zSZEwEBm INVENTORSNELLIE HUNT RODGERS WILLIAM P. HUNT RICHARD T. WENSTROM hfw, rfi weff,hu'fi PAIENTED 7 I975 sum 2 OF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for facilitatingthe removal of meat from cooked crabs or other crustaceans and, inparticular, to a machine which assists in the separation of the ediblemeat from the shells.

2. Description of the Prior Art For many years, the common blue crab ofthe Chesapeake Bay and similar tidal areas has been manually processedafter cooking by breaking open the shelled crab or like crustacean andhand picking of the edible meat from the other unedible portions and theshells. When labor was relatively cheap and available, the processing ofthe crabs was achieved manually to an extent sufficient to meet thedemand. Due to the increased cost of labor, the lack of trained pickersand the relatively low rate of processing of the crabs, there have beenattempts to provide automatic or partially automatic processingequipment to facilitate the removal of the edible crab meat from thewhole crab after cooking. Certain attempts have involved the utilizationof machinery which, in sequence, holds the crab, removes the outershell, further removes the entrails and the like and finally removes theedible meat from the remainder. Not only are such apparatus complicatedand therefore costly, but untlexible in terms of properly holding thevariable sized crabs being processed, and, in most cases, remove only aportion of the edible meat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to animproved crab picking machine which makes use of multiple cyclicprocessing of the same crab by recirculating the crab through themachine. It employs the free fall of the crabs from a given height ontoa hard surface to break up the crab into parts to facilitate removing ofthe edible crab meat from the other parts after free fall impact anddisintegration.

Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention involves anelevator for raising and cooked crabs to a given height above aperforated shaker screen and allowing the free fall of the crab onto theperforated screen. By impact, the crab is broken up into several partsand continued movement of the parts of the crab longitudinally of thevibrator-shaker screen causes particles of meat and waste of given sizeto pass through the screen openings onto an underlying meat catchingmember. Preferably, themeat catching member comprises, in turn,an'endless conveyor belt which moves the edible meat and other unedibleportions of thecrab passing through the perforations, past a mannedculling area where the unedible parts of the crab are removed from theedible meat particles. Preferably, the elevator consists of an endlessbelt recycling conveyor having cleats extending perpendicular to theplane of the conveyor belt. The endless conveyor belt is inclinedupwardly and its movement is reverse to the direction of movement of thecrabs on the perforated shaker screen. The perforated shaker screen, inturn, is inclined slightly so that during vibration caused byoscillation of the same the broken crab particles move toward thedischarge end of the shaker screen. Preferably, discharge end of theshaker screen underlies the cleated conveyor belt and a hinged recyclinghood, having a curvature corresponding to that of the endless conveyorbelt as it moves about the periphery of a support pulley, co-operateswith the cleats on the conveyor belt to cause those crab particles of asize greater than the screen openings or perforations to move up andonto the top run of the cleated conveyor belt, for recirculation andrecyclic free fall onto the impact end of the perforated shaker screen.

The shaker screen is preferably flexibly supported at both ends to anoverlying support being suspended by neoprene straps. A free fall chutecomprising a three sided enclosure defines a vertical path extendingfrom the discharge end of the endless cleated conveyor belt to theupstream edge of the perforated shaker screen. The shaker screenconstitutes a sheet metal plate having perforations downstream of animpact area which directly underlies the discharge end of the cleatedconveyor belt. The sheet metal shaker screen is further provided withvertically upstanding walls on each side to prevent the crab particlesfrom falling out of the same during their longitudinal movement under avibratory mode. Vibration is achieved by an eccentric rotatably coupledto drive pulley rotatably mounted on one of the side walls of the shakerscreen and driven by a motor fixed to the base of the apparatus. Thedischarge end of the shaker screen extends beyond the intake end of thecleated conveyor belt. The pivotable recycling hood pivots about ahorizontal axis parallel with that of the conveyor belt pulley and abovethe same such that the arcuate hood in pivoting away from the dischargeend of the shaker screen allows the selective discharge of the remnantparticles of the crabs unable to pass through the perforated shakerscreen into a trash or garbage receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe improved crab picking machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shaker screen of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one end of the machine ofFIG. I, with the recycling hood in recycle position.

FIG. 4 is a similar view to that of FIG. 3 with therecycling hood inraised position allowing free discharge of waste from the shaker screen.

FIG. 5 is an end'view of the portion of the machine illustrated in FIG.4 as viewed from the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation of the machine of FIG. 1, taken aboutlines 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section of the meatseparating portion of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, theimproved crab picking machine of the present invention comprises anapparatus consisting of a number of principal components. A fixedsupport table 10 has mounted thereon, an endless cleated recycling feedconveyor 12 and an underlying shaker screen assembly 14, a fixed freefall chute 16, a pivotable recycling hood 18 mounted at the feed orintake end of the endless recycling conveyor belt 12 and the dischargeend of the shaker screen assembly 14, and an endless meat discharge andculling conveyor belt 20 which underlies the shaker screen assembly 14.

The apparatus employs as a fixed support, table 10, which consists of atable top 22 supported by a plurality of vertical legs or supports 24.Intermediate of the ends of the machine, FIG. 1, the table employsextended vertical frame members 26 to support on both sides, and towardthe right hand end, panel members 28 which define the sidewalls and oneend wall of chute 16. Further, chute 16 carries at its upper end, atransversely extending rotatable shaft 30 on suitable bearings (notshown), the shaft being adjustable along an inclined path to vary thetension within endless conveyor belt 12. Shaft 30 carries a pulley 38 onthe outside of panel 28, the pulley being coupled by drive belt 40 anddrive pulley 36 to conveyor drive motor 42 fixedly mounted on a supportplate 44, the plate 44 being in turn fixed to the frame members 26 bysimilar frame members 32.

Intermediate of the side panels 28, the shaft 30 supports a largeconveyor drive pulley 46, the pulley being of a width sufficient tocarry the endless cleated recycling conveyor belt 12 which extendsdownwardly and forwardly between panels 28. At the forward end of themachine, there is provided a pair of upstanding side plates 50 which arefixed to the frame member 29 and table top 22 by a series of bolts orthe like. Extending between the side plates 50 is a horizontallyoriented shaft 54 supported by fixed bearings 56 and carrying betweenspaced side plates 50, a second endless recycling conveyor pulley 58similar in size and configuration to the upper drive pulley 46. Theendless conveyor belt 12, which is formed of synthetic rubber materialor the like which is readily cleanable, has extending outwardly from thesurface of the same a plurality of rectangular cleats 60 of a widthapproximating the distance between plates 50 and chute panels 28, thecleats being at regularly spaced positions which may be slightly greaterthan the length of the crabs being processed. The radial height of thecleats may, of course, vary, but in general are on the order of 6 inchesor so. Drive motor 42 rotates the conveyor belt 12 clockwise, FIG. 1,such that any crabs present on the upper inclined run 62 are carried tothe top of the endless recycling feed conveyor and fall freely bygravity within chute 16 where they impact against the upper end of theshaker screen assembly 14.

In this respect, the shaker screen assembly 14 comprises a metal plate64 having side plates 66 fixed thereto at each side and extendingupwardly, the plate 64 being perforated as at 68, intermediate of itsend, such that any crab particles of a size less than the diameter ofthe perforations 68 whether they be meat or waste will fall through theperforations. As mentioned previously, the entry end 70 of the shakerscreen assembly plate 64, is imperforate. The cooked crabs falling offthe discharge end of the conveyor pass downwardly within the free fallchute l6 and impact against the unperforated portion 70 of the shakerscreen plate 64 to disintegrate into multiple pieces. Extendingoutwardly from the L-beam supports 26 on one or more sides of the chutepanels 28 are fixed support plates 72. Depending from the support plates72 are neoprene bands or straps 74 whose lower ends are fixed to theside plates 66 of the shaker screen assembly by suitable coupling means76. Thus, the right hand end, FIG. 1, of the shaker screen assembly isresiliently supported by the stretchable bands 74. At the left hand endof the machine, additional neoprene resilient bands 78 have one endcoupled to the side wall 66 of the shaker screen assembly and theirother ends coupled to the spaced support plates 50 such that the shakerscreen assembly is supported at or near both ends by resilientstretchable means.

Fixed to the table top 22 and supported by auxiliary support base 80 isa second drive motor 82 whose output shaft 84 carries a drive pulleywhich, in turn, carries a drive belt 86. A driven pulley 88 is mountedfor rotation about a vertical axis defined by shaft 90 and bearings 92within shaker screen sidewalls 66 above the driving pulley and iscoupled to the same by the belt 86. A pair of eccentric weights 94coupled to ends of shaft 90 cause oscillation of the shaker screen dueto the angular shifting in position of the same, affecting a vibratorymode to the screen assembly 14. In this respect, it is noted that theshaker screen assembly 14 rather than being horizontal, is inclinedslightly from the horizontal and downwardly from the crab impact portion70 towards the discharge end 98 of the same. The discharge end of theperforated plate 64 extends beyond the feed end of the endless conveyorbelt 12. In this respect, FIGS. 3 and 4, the side support plates 50support the pivotable recycling hood 18 such that when the recyclinghood is in a first or lowered position any of the larger crab particlesC not passing through perforations 68 of plate 64 will be picked up bythe moving paddles or cleats 60 and recirculated onto the upper feed run62 of the endless recycling conveyor belt 12. In this respect, therecycling hood consists of a curved, semicylindrical front wall 100 anda pair of side walls 102, the side walls 102 including extensions 109which cooperate with extensions 106 of the side plates 50 and pivotshaft 108, for supporting the recycling hood for pivotable action abouta horizontal axis as defined by the shaft 108 passing through theprojections 104 and 106 which are slightly overlapped at their ends. Apair of handles 110 extend outwardly from the sides of the hood allowingthe hood to be manually moved from the lower or closed and recyclingposition shown in FIG. 3 to the open, nonrecycling and waste dischargeposition, shown in FIG. 4. In this position, trash falls down inclinedplate 1 1 1.

In order to prevent the recycling larger crab particles C and the freshcrabs from falling off the upper run 62 of the endless recycling feedconveyor belt 12 as they move upwardly, a pair of rectangular guideplates 112 are fixed respectively to side plates 50 and chute side walls28.

It is further noted that the tip ends of the cleats then move about theinside of curved front wall 100 of the recycling hood l8 and may be inactual contact with the same to insure recycling of the crab particleswhen the recycling hood is in its lower recycling position.

As mentioned previously, the major portion of the shaker screen plate 64is perforated to allow the meat particles 8 and the smaller particles Bof trash or waste to fall through the same during the multi-cyclerecirculation of the crabs during processing. In this respect, at thefront of the machine, the side plates 50 are further provided with apair of ball bearings 114 which support a horizontally extending shaft116 which carries endless conveyor belt pulley 118 of dimensionssufficient to support the endless meat culling and discharge conveyorbelt 20 thereon. A similar pulley 120 is mounted at the rear of themachine on a shaft 122 which, in turn, is supported by adjustablebearings 124 carried by table support plates 126 at a position somewhatto the left of free fall chute 16. Motor 128 drives conveyor belt viapulley 120 and belt 132. The length of the endless meat culling anddischarge conveyor belt may be readily varied as may the direction ofthe same, and more than one culling station may be provided, dependingupon the dexterity of the operator and the amount of culling necessaryto insure that primarily meat is discharged at the left end of conveyorbelt 20 onto inclined guide plate 134 free of trash.

The present invention is further directed to automated means for furtherseparating small particles of crab shell from the crab meat which isdischarged from the endless culling conveyor 20. In this respect, thedrive motor 120 is additionally provided with pulley means and a secondbelt 136 which drives a rotatable, cylindrical drum 138 which is mountedfor rotation about a horizontal axis as defined by support shaft 139,the shaft having fixed thereto a driven pulley 142 which carries theendless drive belt 136. The drum 138 which constitutes the metalcylinder is provided with a smooth peripheral surface which underliesand is spaced slightly downstream from the discharge end of the endlessculling conveyor 20. In this case, the inclined plate 134 constitutes aguide plate such that the meat particles and remanent trash particlessuch as crab shell particles being discharged from the endless conveyorbelt 20 impact the periphery of drum 138 at a point where the surface ofthe drum is moving upwardly and away from the endless conveyor belt 20and the guide plate 134.

The separation operation may be best seen by reference to FIG, 7 whereinthe small particles B of crab as they are discharged and fall along apath defined by the inclined guide plate 134, impact the periphery ofthe rotating drum 138. Trash particles primarily crab shell particles Bdo not pass up and over the periphery of the rotating drum, that is,they are not carried by the rotating drum due to the lack of frictionbetween the hard shell particles and the smooth surface of the metaldrum, whereas, the softer and more moist meat particles B" because ofthe friction between the same and the metal drum upon impact with thedrums surface continue to move in the direction of its rotation asevidenced by the arrow, FIG. 7, until they either fall by gravity fromthe downstream side of the rotating drum or are scraped from theperiphery of the same by scraper blade 140 is is in contact with thebottom of the drum, the blade being fixed and supported by the framemember, such as frame member 24. In order to influence the frictionalcharacteristics of the drum 138, a refrigeration unit 143 feeds arefrigerant 144 such as liquid nitrogen or the like to the interior ofthe drum through a conduit system 146, the refrigerating unit 143incorporating controls (not shown) to insure that the outer periphery ofthe drum 138 is maintained at a temperature above 32 F. but less than 40F. The temperature is critical in that a temperature below 32 F. willcause ice formation on the surface of the drum and defeat the separatingfunction of the same. A third endless conveyor belt 148 is supported bypulley 150 so as to underlie the rotating drum 138, the third endlessconveyor belt 148 moving in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 7, awayfrom the rotating drum 138. Belt 148 defines a second manned cullingarea downstream of the drum. A suitable framework 152 supports theendless conveyor belt 140 which is driven by means (not shown). Arectangular open top bin 154 is positioned on framework 156 forreceiving the trash particles and, in particular, the small shellparticles. The employment of a single separating arrangement employingthe drum 138 has the effect of automatically separating a minimum ofpercent of the hard crab shell particles from the meat. The entrails andlike particles have similar frictional characteristics insofar as therotating drum is concerned, or may move along with the meat, but suchparticles may be removed either at the first culling station associatedwith belt 20 or at the second culling station as defined by endlessconveyor belt 148. Primarily meat particles B are discharged onto thethird endless conveyor belt 148. The spacing between the dischargebaffle or guide plate 134 and the periphery of the drum is also criticalas is its position relative to the drum itself. In the illustratedembodiment, a gap or distance of approximately 1% inches operatessatisfactorily with the lower edge of the inclined plate 134 beingapproximately coplanar with the top of the rotating drum 138, althoughspaced forwardly of the same.

With the recycling hood in the lower or recycling position, new crabsmay be added to belt 12 above hood 18 to the recycled crabs. Thevertical height of the discharge end of the recycling conveyor, ofcourse, may vary as may the position, and direction of inclination ofthe perforated shaker screen. The manned culling area may lie at anylongitudinal position and the machine operated to effect selectionremoval of either the meat particles on belt 20 from the trash or viceversa, as desired. Further, while the agitation, and vibration to theperforated shaker screen is provided by eccentric means, other means maybe employed such as electromagnetic vibrator or, in fact, apiezo-electric device, for instance.

in practice, depending upon the size and quality of the whole crabs, thetemperature of the same, and the proximity in time from removal from thecooker to cleaning, a variable number of free falls plus the shakingaction of the shaker screen is required to completely process a givencrab. As an example, 20 free falls from a height of 5 feet plus shakingwill ordinarily complete the cleaning cycle for one crab and withprocessing action in the sample machine being on the order of one crabper second with a maximum yield of 15 crabs to one pount of processedcrab meat, the illustrated apparatus of the present invention readilyproduces 4 pounds of crab meat per minute.

What is claimed is:

l. A crab picking machine comprising:

means for elevating cooked crabs to a free fall position,

means underlying said elevating means for supporting said cooked crabsafter free fall and disintegration of the crabs by impact therewithincluding a screen having openings therein of a size to permit meat andother crab particles of predetermined size to pass therethrough,

means for vibrating said screen, and

recycling means for directing crab particles in excess of saidpredetermined size to said elevating means.

2. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said screenis inclined to cause crabs to move in a first direction, said elevatingmeans comprises an upwardly inclined endless recycling conveyor havingits discharge end overlying said screen and moving in a directionopposite to that of movement of the crabs along the screen.

3. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidrecycling means includes means for selectively coupling the dischargeend of the shaker screen to the intake end of the endless recyclingconveyor.

4. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said endlessconveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced cleats extending outwardly from its outer surfaceand said recycling means comprise a curved plate closely overlying theperipheral path of the ends of the inclined conveyor belt cleats withits free edge, movable into contact with the discharge end of thescreen.

5. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said screencomprises a metal plate having a plurality of holes therein,intermediate of its ends, and a second endless conveyor belt ispositioned underlying the screen to continuously move crab meat andother particles falling upon the same and through the holes of thescreen to a culling area longitudinally displaced from the perforatedshaker screen.

6. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said screenis supported at least at one end relative to said recycling conveyor bya pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screenand said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operativelycoupled to said shaker screen for effecting vibration of the same.

7. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said screenis supported at least at one end relative to said recycling conveyor bya pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screenand said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operativelycoupled to said screen for effecting vibration of the same.

8. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said screencomprises a metal plate having a plurality of holes therein,intermediate of its ends, and an endless conveyor belt is positionedunderlying the screen to continuously move crab meat and other particlesfalling upon the same and through the holes of the screen to a cullingarea longitudinally displaced from the perforated shaker screen.

9. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shakerscreen is supported at least at one end relative to said recyclingconveyor by a pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides ofsaid screen and said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentricoperatively coupled to said screen for efiecting vibration of the same.

10. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said screenis supported at least at one end relative to said recycling conveyor bya pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screenand said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operativelycoupled to said screen for effecting vibration of the same.

11. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screencomprises a metal plate having a plurality of holes therein,intermediate of its ends, and an endless conveyor belt is positionedunderlying the screen to continuously move crab meat and other particlesfalling upon the same and through the holes of the screen to a cullingarea longitudinally displaced from the perforated shaker screen.

12. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1 1, wherein saidscreen is supported at least at one end relative to said recyclingconveyor by a pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides ofsaid screen and said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentricoperatively coupled to said screen for effecting vibration of the same.

13. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screenis supported at least on one end relative to said recycling conveyor bya pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screenand said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operativelycoupled to said screen for effecting vibration of the same.

14. In combination:

a stationary horizontally extending table,

panel means defining a fixed vertical chute rising from said table atone end thereof,

an upwardly inclined endless recycling conveyor overlying said tablewith the upper end mounted for rotation within said free fall chute,

a shaker screen supported above said table with one end lying withinsaid free fall chute and the other end underlying the lower end of saidinclined endless recycling conveyor,

a recycling hood pivotably coupled to said table and selectivelypositioned with respect to the discharge end of said shaker screen andthe lower end of said endless recycling conveyor to cause crab particlesof relatively large size to be picked up by said endless recyclingconveyor for free fall discharge at the upper end of said chute or fordischarge as trash at the discharge end of said shaker screen,

vibrating means carried by said table and operatively coupled to saidshaker screen for effecting vibration of the same,

means for supporting said shaker screen at a slight inclination to thehorizontal and downwardly towards the intake lower end of said recyclingconveyor, said shaker screen being perforated to allow crab particles ofa given size to fall therethrough during vibration of the same, andsecond endless conveyor immediately underlying said perforated shakerscreenfor moving crab particles falling through the screen perforationstoward one end of the picker to facilitate culling of the same.

15. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein saidvibrating shaker screen includes a portion extending longitudinallybeyond the intake lower end of said endless recycling conveyor belt,said recycling hood comprises an arcuate plate hinged to the front endof said recycling conveyor so as to wrap about the intake peripheral endof the same and to selectively contact the projecting discharge end ofsaid vibrating shaker screen, to effect crab recycling or upon movementof the recycling scoop from recycling position, trash is readilydischarged from the discharge end of the vibrating shaker screen.

16. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 14, further comprisinga rotating cylindrical metal drum underlying the discharge end of saidsecond endless conveyor belt and spaced slightly beyond the same, aninclined guide plate directing crab particles falling freely from thedischarge end of said second endless conveyor belt onto the periphery ofsaid drum at an area of said drum which is moving upwardly and away fromsaid second endless conveyor belt, the friction between said cylindricalmetal drum and said meat particles being such as to cause said meatparticles to move with said drum in the direction away from said secondendless conveyor belt while the lack of friction between the drum andthe crab shell particles causes said crab shell particles to bounce offof said drum and continue to move downwardly opposite to the directionof drum rotation for separation therefrom.

17. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 16, further comprisingmeans for maintaining the temperature of said drum between 32 F. and 40F.

18. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein a thirdconveyor belt underlies said cylindrical metal drum to move meatparticles falling from the rotating cylindrical metal drum on thedownstream side thereof, away from said drum for manual culling and saidmachine further comprises scraper means in contact with the bottom ofsaid rotating cylindrical metal drum to insure removal of meat particlesand deposition of the same onto said third endless conveyor belt.

19. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:a rotating drum, means for directing meat and other crab particles oflimited size, after passage through said vibrating shaker screen ontothe periphery of said rotating drum as it is moving upwardly and awayfrom the oncoming particles, the surface of said drum being such thatthe friction between the meat particles and said drum causes said meatparticles to be carried by said drum in said direction of movement whilethe lack of friction between the drum and crab shell particles causessaid crab shell particles to fall from the drum in a direction oppositeto its rotation for separation therefrom.

20. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said drumcomprises a hollow metal cylinder and said machine further includesmeans for maintaining the temperature of said drum between 32 F. and 40F.

21. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein a firstconveyor belt underlies said screen to receive the crab particlespassing through said screen, said metal cylinder underlies and is spacedslightly beyond the discharge end of said endless conveyor belt, afurther endless belt underlies said metal cylinder for moving meatparticles falling from the downstream side of said metal cylinder awayfrom the same for manual culling and scraper means in contact with thebottom of said rotating metal cylinder insures removal of the crab meatparticles from the cylinder periphery for gravity discharge onto saidfurther endless culling belt.

1. A crab picking machine comprising: means for elevating cooked crabsto a free fall position, means underlying said elevating means forsupporting said cooked crabs after free fall and disintegration of thecrabs by impact therewith including a screen having openings therein ofa size to permit meat and other crab particles of predetermined size topass therethrough, means for vibrating said screen, and recycling meansfor directing crab particles in excess of said predetermined size tosaid elevating means.
 2. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 1,wherein: said screen is inclined to cause crabs to move in a firstdirection, said elevating means comprises an upwardly inclined endlessrecycling conveyor having its discharge end overlying said screen andmoving in a direction opposite to that of movement of the crabs alongthe screen.
 3. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid recycling means includes means for selectively coupling thedischarge end of the shaker screen to the intake end of the endlessrecycling conveyor.
 4. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 3,wherein said endless conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt havinga plurality of longitudinally spaced cleats extending outwardly from itsouter surface and said recycling means comprise a curved plate closelyoverlying the peripheral path of the ends of the inclined conveyor beltcleats with its free edge, movable into contact with the discharge endof the screen.
 5. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 4,wherein said screen comprises a metal plate having a plurality of holestherein, intermediate of its ends, and a second endless conveyor belt ispositioned underlying the screen to continuously move crab meat andother particles falling upon the same and through the holes of thescreen to a culling area longitudinally displaced from the perforatedshaker screen.
 6. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 5,wherein said screen is supported at least at one end relative to saidrecycling conveyor by a pair of flexible resilient bands on respectivesides of said screen and said vibrating means includes a motor driveneccentric operatively coupled to said shaker screen for effectingvibration of the same.
 7. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim4, wherein said screen is supported at least at one end relative to saidrecycling conveyor by a pair of flexible resilient bands on respectivesides of said screen and said vibrating means includes a motor driveneccentric operatively coupled to said screen for effecting vibration ofthe same.
 8. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid screen comprises a metal plate having a plurality of holes therein,intermediate of its ends, and an endless conveyor belt is positionedunderlying the screen to continuously move crab meat and other particlesfalling upon the same and through the holes of the screen to a cullingarea longitudinally displaced from the perforated shaker screen.
 9. Thecrab picking machine as claimed in claim 8, wherEin said shaker screenis supported at least at one end relative to said recycling conveyor bya pair of flexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screenand said vibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operativelycoupled to said screen for effecting vibration of the same.
 10. The crabpicking machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said screen is supportedat least at one end relative to said recycling conveyor by a pair offlexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screen and saidvibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operatively coupled tosaid screen for effecting vibration of the same.
 11. The crab pickingmachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen comprises a metalplate having a plurality of holes therein, intermediate of its ends, andan endless conveyor belt is positioned underlying the screen tocontinuously move crab meat and other particles falling upon the sameand through the holes of the screen to a culling area longitudinallydisplaced from the perforated shaker screen.
 12. The crab pickingmachine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said screen is supported atleast at one end relative to said recycling conveyor by a pair offlexible resilient bands on respective sides of said screen and saidvibrating means includes a motor driven eccentric operatively coupled tosaid screen for effecting vibration of the same.
 13. The crab pickingmachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen is supported at leaston one end relative to said recycling conveyor by a pair of flexibleresilient bands on respective sides of said screen and said vibratingmeans includes a motor driven eccentric operatively coupled to saidscreen for effecting vibration of the same.
 14. In combination: astationary horizontally extending table, panel means defining a fixedvertical chute rising from said table at one end thereof, an upwardlyinclined endless recycling conveyor overlying said table with the upperend mounted for rotation within said free fall chute, a shaker screensupported above said table with one end lying within said free fallchute and the other end underlying the lower end of said inclinedendless recycling conveyor, a recycling hood pivotably coupled to saidtable and selectively positioned with respect to the discharge end ofsaid shaker screen and the lower end of said endless recycling conveyorto cause crab particles of relatively large size to be picked up by saidendless recycling conveyor for free fall discharge at the upper end ofsaid chute or for discharge as trash at the discharge end of said shakerscreen, vibrating means carried by said table and operatively coupled tosaid shaker screen for effecting vibration of the same, means forsupporting said shaker screen at a slight inclination to the horizontaland downwardly towards the intake lower end of said recycling conveyor,said shaker screen being perforated to allow crab particles of a givensize to fall therethrough during vibration of the same, and a secondendless conveyor immediately underlying said perforated shaker screenfor moving crab particles falling through the screen perforations towardone end of the picker to facilitate culling of the same.
 15. The crabpicking machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said vibrating shakerscreen includes a portion extending longitudinally beyond the intakelower end of said endless recycling conveyor belt, said recycling hoodcomprises an arcuate plate hinged to the front end of said recyclingconveyor so as to wrap about the intake peripheral end of the same andto selectively contact the projecting discharge end of said vibratingshaker screen, to effect crab recycling or upon movement of therecycling scoop from recycling position, trash is readily dischargedfrom the discharge end of the vibrating shaker screen.
 16. The crabpicking machine as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a rotatingcylindrical metal drum underlying the discharge end of saId secondendless conveyor belt and spaced slightly beyond the same, an inclinedguide plate directing crab particles falling freely from the dischargeend of said second endless conveyor belt onto the periphery of said drumat an area of said drum which is moving upwardly and away from saidsecond endless conveyor belt, the friction between said cylindricalmetal drum and said meat particles being such as to cause said meatparticles to move with said drum in the direction away from said secondendless conveyor belt while the lack of friction between the drum andthe crab shell particles causes said crab shell particles to bounce offof said drum and continue to move downwardly opposite to the directionof drum rotation for separation therefrom.
 17. The crab picking machineas claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for maintaining thetemperature of said drum between 32* F. and 40* F.
 18. The crab pickingmachine as claimed in claim 17, wherein a third conveyor belt underliessaid cylindrical metal drum to move meat particles falling from therotating cylindrical metal drum on the downstream side thereof, awayfrom said drum for manual culling and said machine further comprisesscraper means in contact with the bottom of said rotating cylindricalmetal drum to insure removal of meat particles and deposition of thesame onto said third endless conveyor belt.
 19. The crab picking machineas claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a rotating drum, means fordirecting meat and other crab particles of limited size, after passagethrough said vibrating shaker screen onto the periphery of said rotatingdrum as it is moving upwardly and away from the oncoming particles, thesurface of said drum being such that the friction between the meatparticles and said drum causes said meat particles to be carried by saiddrum in said direction of movement while the lack of friction betweenthe drum and crab shell particles causes said crab shell particles tofall from the drum in a direction opposite to its rotation forseparation therefrom.
 20. The crab picking machine as claimed in claim19, wherein said drum comprises a hollow metal cylinder and said machinefurther includes means for maintaining the temperature of said drumbetween 32* F. and 40* F.
 21. The crab picking machine as claimed inclaim 20, wherein a first conveyor belt underlies said screen to receivethe crab particles passing through said screen, said metal cylinderunderlies and is spaced slightly beyond the discharge end of saidendless conveyor belt, a further endless belt underlies said metalcylinder for moving meat particles falling from the downstream side ofsaid metal cylinder away from the same for manual culling and scrapermeans in contact with the bottom of said rotating metal cylinder insuresremoval of the crab meat particles from the cylinder periphery forgravity discharge onto said further endless culling belt.